Closure



CLOSURE Filed Dec. 1, 1957 INVENTOR. Away 44 72/02 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to closures for containers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved closurewhich will give a maximum opening with a minimum outer diameter.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedclosure which will present a novel and ornamental effect in itsmechanical operation.

It is a further object to provide a closure having a dome shape to theoperating parts whereby the necessary space required for the operatingparts is conserved as far as possible, and a stronger and more rigidconstruction is obtained with a minimum of material.

It is a further object to provide a novel type of closure having aconcave form which will present an attractive pouring surface and whichwill automatically drain all surplus liquid back into the container.

It is a further object to provide a novel closure which may embody theupper portion of the container itself as a part of the operatingmechanism.

This application is in part a division and continuation of my priorapplication Serial No. 55,157 filed December 19th, 1935, but it involvescertain new embodiments of one of the inventions there disclosed and apart of the disclosure of that case has been removed and incorporatedherein in order sharply to define the line of division between that caseand this.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a closure embodying this invention beingpartly broken away to show the shutter in closed position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view with the cap removed, showing the shutter inopen position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the shutter in closed position,with the cap broken away.

Figure 4 is a central vertical section through the device.

Figure 5 is a modified form in which the dome shape is inverted for apurpose to be described.

Figure 6 is a vertical central section through the device of Figure 5.

In the drawing the numeral It) represents a base of the closure havingas illustrated a neck I I adapted to be attached to a can l2i by beingcrimped thereto as shown at l3. This base has its upper portion or endwall dome shaped in the 5 form of a hemisphere as shown at [4, which ispreferably spaced from the neck II by an annular rim l5, although;ifdesired,-this rim may be omitted to make a-closure with a stillsmaller outside diameter. The domed wall l4 has a central outer openingl6 and the neck has an annular recess or groove IT. c

The numeral l8 comprises ashutter member concentric with the dome andfitting over it and having a generaldiamond shape contour, as will beclear from the drawing.

The numeral l9 is'a cup shaped cap having circumferential walls '20fitting over the neck I l and having an inwardly projecting rib 2|fitting into and tightly engaging the walls of the groove II to hold thecap in place, and said cup having a dome shaped end wall 22 adapted tomate with the end wall l4 and shutter l 8. The cup l9 may also have anannular rim 23 corresponding with and engaging the rim l5 of the base.

The shutter is articulated near one end to the base and at the other endto the cap. For example the shutter may have a depressed pin 25 attachedat one end to fit into a depressed recess 26 in the periphery of thedome shaped portion M of the base, and may have an outwardly pressed pin21 at' the other end fitting into an outwardly expressed elongated slot28 in the periphery of the dome shaped portion of the cap.

It will be understood that the pins 21 and 28 will be spaced not quitediametrically across from each other and sufliciently far from theperiphery of the dome so that as the outer cap is turned the shutter ismoved across the surface of the sphere. The shutter, in one of itspositions, and the cap have openings 29 and 30 in registrywith theopening "5. 4

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figure 5, the dome isreversed. As here illustrated the container, which may be a bottle 40,has its 45 neck a little thickened toward the center as shown at 4|, andout out in the form of a hemisphere as shown at 42, having a centralopening 43. Immediately surrounding this central opening is a recess 44adapted to receive a resilient 50 washer 45 as for example of cork.

A shutter 46 in the form of a sector of a sphere that is substantiallydiamond shape in contour mates with the surface 42. A cap 41 has adepressed dome 48 mating with shutter 46 and 55 V a dependng flange 48'extending over the outside of the neck of the bottle. This flange has alower inwardly projecting rim 49 adapted to fit over a projecting rib 50of the neck and enter a recess 5! which may be formed between rib 50 anda second rib 52 so that the cap is rotatably mounted on the neck withoutend play. The rib 50 may have its upper face 53 inclined to facilitateforcing the cap over it.

The parts are preferably so proportioned that when the cap is in placeit is free from engagement with the neck of the bottle except at itsperiphery, and it is free to exert pressure on the shutter immediatelyabove the washer 44.

The shutter 46 is provided with a pin 54 at one end fitting into an opengroove'55 in the neck of the bottle and with an opening 56 in its otherend adapted to be engaged by a pin 51 depressed from the dome 48.

The operation of this form of the invention is the same as that of thefirst form. It possesses the advantage that the cap 41 has a lip 58which serves as a pouring spout, and any surplus of liquid is drainedback into the bottle.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character described comprising in combination a baseportionand a cap portion, each of said portions comprising a side wall,and a hemispherical end ,wall, a hemispherical shutter movable betweensaid end walls, said shutter being pivotally connected at its oppositeends to the end walls of the base portion and the cap portionrespectively, each of said pivotal connections being near to but spacedfrom the base of the hemisphere of the end walls and means for holdingsaid cap portion upon said base portion.

2. A device of the character described comprising in combination a baseportion and a cap portion, each of said portions comprising a side walland a curved end wall, a shutter movable between said curved end wallsand pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the base portion and capportion respectively, cooperating bearing surfaces carried by side wallsto permit rotation of the cap portion on the base portion,

3. A device of the character described comprising in combination a baseportion and a cap portion, each of said portions comprising a side walland a curved end wall, a shutter movable between said curved end Wallsand pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the base portion and capportion respectively, said capportion being rotatable on said baseportion, said base portion and said cap portion having an opening inalignment therewith in one position of the latter.

4. A device of the character described comprising in combination a baseportion and a cap portion, each of hemispherical shape, a hemisphericalshutter movable between said portions, said shutter being articulated toboth of said portions whereby a rotation of said cap portion will movesaid shutter, said base portion and said cap portion having alignedopenings in position to be intercepted by said shutter in one positionof the latter.

5. A device of the character described comprising in combination a baseportion, a cap portion and a shutter portion, all curved to the shape ofsubstantially concentric spheres of more than 120 of circular arc, saidshutter being movable between said base portion and said cap portion andhaving one end pivoted to said base portion and one end pivoted to saidcap portion, said base portion and said cap portion having centralaligned openings adapted to be intercepted by said shutter in oneposition of the latter.

6. A closure for a receptacle comprising a member upon said receptaclehaving a concave surface therein, an opening in the bottom of saidconcavity leading to the interior of the receptacle, a shutter withinsaid concavity and conforming to the surface thereof, a cap fitting oversaid member and enclosing said shutter and having a concave surfacecorresponding to the shape of the concavity in said member, said caphaving a central opening therein, said member and shutter having bearingsurfaces retaining said cap in place and permitting the rotationthereof, means for articulating the shutter to the cap and memberwhereby the rotation of the cap will move the shutter from one positionto another, there being an opening in the shutter in one of itspositions in alignment with the opening in the member and cap. I

'7. A closure for a receptacle comprising a member upon said receptaclehaving a concave surface therein, an opening in the bottom of saidconcavity leading to the interior of the receptacle, a shutter withinsaid concavity and conforming to the surface thereof, a cap fitting oversaid member and enclosing said shutter and having a concave surfacecorresponding to the shape of the concavity in said member, said caphaving a central opening therein, said member and shutter having bearingsurfaces retaining said cap in place and permitting the rotationthereof, said shutter being pivoted at its opposite ends to said memberand to said cap, whereby the rotation of the cap will move the shutterfrom one position to another, there being an opening in the shutter inone of its positions in alignment with the opening in the member andcap.

8. A receptacle comprising a neck having a concave opening therein, anopening in the bottom of said concavity leading to the interior of thereceptacle, a shutter within said concavity and conforming to thesurface thereof, a cap fitting over said neck and enclosing said shutterand having a concave surface corresponding to the shape of the concavityin said neck, said cap having a central opening therein, said neck andshutter having bearing surfaces retaining said cap in place andpermitting the rotation thereof, said shutter being pivoted at itsopposite ends to said neck and to said cap, whereby the rotation of thecap will move the shutter from one position to another, there being anopening in the shutter in one of its positions in alignment with theopening in the neck and cap.

PERCY M. THORN.

